The Latest: Fire chief struck by car included in death toll


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CANTON, Texas (AP) — The Latest on severe weather in parts of the U.S. (all times local):

8:50 p.m.

The death of a north-central Arkansas fire chief struck by a vehicle while heavy thunderstorms moved through the state is being included in the state's count of weather-related fatalities, bringing the death toll to five.

Arkansas State Police say Cove Creek/Pearson Fire Chief Doug Decker died early Sunday after being struck by a vehicle on Highway 25 near Quitman, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) north of Little Rock.

Arkansas Department of Emergency Management spokeswoman Whitney Green says the other deaths include one woman killed Saturday night when a tree fell on her mobile home. There also were two fatalities in Washington County, including one person who was found dead after a water rescue effort.

Green says two children in Madison County remain missing after they were trapped in a vehicle that was swept away by floodwaters.

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7:55 p.m.

Authorities in Mississippi have confirmed the death of a second person from severe weather moving across the state.

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency said in a statement Sunday that a child from Rankin County, a suburb about 20 miles (32.19 kilometers) east of Jackson, died from electric shock in floodwater.

Mississippi officials didn't immediately release any other details about the child's death.

Officials also didn't release details of the first death reported near Durant, about 63 miles (101 kilometers) northeast of Jackson.

Across the U.S., 12 people have been killed by tornadoes and flooding in the Midwest and Southeast.

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7:10 p.m.

A 2-year-old girl in Tennessee has died after being struck by a heavy, metal soccer goal post that was blown over by high winds.

The Metro Nashville Police Department posted on its Twitter page on Sunday evening that Melanie Espinoza Rodriguez was transported to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Middle Tennessee was hit by a strong line of storms that knocked down trees and power lines earlier Sunday.

Across the U.S., 11 people have been killed by tornadoes and flooding in the Midwest and Southeast.

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5:15 p.m.

An Arkansas volunteer fire department chief was killed when he was struck by a vehicle while working during storms in north-central Arkansas.

Arkansas State Police say Cove Creek/Pearson Fire Chief Doug Decker died early Sunday after being struck by a vehicle on Highway 25 near Quitman, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) north of Little Rock.

Trooper Liz Chapman said Decker was checking water levels during the storm when he was struck shortly before 4 a.m., but it wasn't known if he will be included as a storm-related death.

In Missouri, the governor announced a second person has died during weekend flooding in his state. Gov. Eric Greitens did not release details about the second death.

Across the U.S., 10 people have been killed by tornadoes and flooding in the Midwest and Southeast.

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3:10 p.m.

Authorities say two people have died in flooding in Arkansas, raising the death toll from weekend storms in that state to three.

Officials say two children are also missing in Arkansas after a vehicle was swept off a bridge in Hindsville in the northwest part of the state.

Across the U.S., nine people have been killed by tornadoes and flooding in the Midwest and Southeast.

Four people died in Texas on Saturday as the National Weather Service confirmed that four tornadoes slammed into several small towns east of Dallas.

The storm also was causing a rare, late-season blizzard in western Kansas, closing parts of Interstate 70.

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1:45 p.m.

At least seven people have died in the severe storms rolling across the U.S.

Four deaths happened in Texas and deaths were also reported in Arkansas, Missouri and Mississippi as a line of storms brought tornadoes, flooding and heavy rains to the Midwest and the South.

In Texas, a series of tornadoes left a trail of overturned vehicles, mangled trees and damaged homes.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says a 72-year-old woman drowned despite her husband's efforts to save her as their vehicle was swept away by rushing waters Saturday. In Arkansas, a 65-year-old woman was killed when a tree was blown into her home Saturday.

Mississippi officials didn't immediately release details of the death near Durant.

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10:40 a.m.

Severe storms that moved across Arkansas are blamed for at least one death there.

Police say 65-year-old Julia Schwede was killed when a tree was blown into her home Saturday night.

The storms were among several in parts of the South and Midwest. In Texas, at least four people were killed in a series of tornadoes that left a trail of overturned vehicles, mangled trees and damaged homes. Rains killed at least one person in Missouri.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says a 72-year-old woman drowned despite her husband's efforts to save her as their vehicle was swept away by rushing waters Saturday near Clever in southwest Missouri.

Flooding is also an issue in northern Arkansas, where numerous roads are closed after more than 3 inches of rain fell in some areas.

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10:15 a.m.

Authorities in East Texas now say at least four people have been killed as a series of tornadoes pummeled parts of three counties east of Dallas. They caution that the death toll, originally put at five, could rise again as search teams go through the extensive wreckage.

Canton Mayor Lou Ann Everett says multiple tornadoes that began late Saturday afternoon left "heartbreaking and upsetting" destruction 35 miles (56 kilometers) long and 15 miles (24 kilometers) wide.

A Van Zandt County official says search teams going door to door are dealing with gas leaks and downed power lines and trees.

The National Weather Service has confirmed at least three tornadoes touched down in the Canton area, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) east of Dallas.

ETMC Regional Health Care Systems spokeswoman Rebecca Berkley says 56 people have been treated at three area hospitals. Six remain hospitalized Sunday morning and two of those are in critical condition.

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8:45 a.m.

At least three tornadoes have slammed several small towns in East Texas east of Dallas, and authorities believe as many as five people are dead and dozens injured, though they're still assessing the situation.

Canton Fire Department Capt. Brian Horton says the twisters that hit Saturday evening about 50 miles (80 kilometers) east of Dallas have caused "maybe five casualties" but the that number "may go up" once authorities can go through overturned vehicles and destroyed homes and other wreckage.

ETMC Regional Health Care Systems spokeswoman Rebecca Berkley says 56 people have been treated at three hospitals in the area. Six remain hospitalized Sunday morning and two of those are in critical condition.

The National Weather Service has confirmed at least three tornadoes swept through parts of three counties.

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12:35 a.m.

Authorities say fatalities have been reported and dozens of people were taken to hospitals after a tornado hit a small city in East Texas.

Powerful storms swept through Canton early Saturday evening, leaving behind a trail of overturned vehicles, mangled trees and damaged homes. Canton is about 50 miles (80 kilometers) east of Dallas.

ETMC Regional Heathcare Systems spokeswoman Rebecca Berkley says 54 patients were taken to three of ETMC hospitals in the region, including one in critical condition.

Canton Fire Department Capt. Brian Horton says "a number of fatalities" have been reported, but it wasn't yet clear how many.

The National Weather Service says at least one tornado hit Canton, while tornadoes also were reported in surrounding areas.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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